Friday, October 22, 2004

Days of Adolescence

Adolescence...those years from 11 to 14....is exhausting for our children. (The whole parenting thing is exhausting for moms and dads. That's a given and another subject.) Their bodies are growing and changing more quickly and radically than at any other time in life. Peer pressure morphs from child's play into tidal waves of temptation.At times,middle school work feels harder, bigger and wider than the Pacific Ocean. And parent's expectations become more evident than ever. Everyday is new...new choices, new freedoms, new ideas, new pressures, My 8th grade, 13 year old Andrea had not yet stirred this morning at 7:10 AM. She usually rises at 6:30, reads her Bible, refreshes the bird cage, and organizes for school. She's naturally an early riser, an organized girl, a great student. She hates to be late. I quietly walked into her room.....she's huddled under blankets, sound asleep like when she was my baby. Me: Andrea.....it's 7, sweetie. Time to get up.Andrea: Uh......uh.....what? Me: Karena's Dad will be here soon. Time to get up. Andrea: Uh...oh no. Oh no. Uh.....(she sits up, panics....finally stands. I leave the room....progress is in motion.)

I walk in to my office, listening to her scurrying. Bathroom noises, drawers opening, papers shuffled into her backpack. Sounds of morning chaos. Me: Everything OK? Can I make your lunch for you? (She prefers to make her own lunch menu.) Andrea: (walks into my office and puts her arms around my neck) Mom? Me: Yes, honey? Andrea: What day is it?